[IP] ITU Internet Reports 2005: The Internet of Things
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From: john wilson <johnresearch@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: December 2, 2005 11:30:59 AM EST
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx, ip@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: ITU Internet Reports 2005: The Internet of Things
Dave- of interest for IP list?
===
[A landmark report from the ITU. - JW]
http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/publications/internetofthings/
ITU Internet Reports 2005: The Internet of Things
Written by a team of analysts from the Strategy and Policy Unit (SPU)
of the ITU, the report takes a look at the next step in "always on"
communications, in which new technologies like RFID and smart
computing promise a world of networked and interconnected devices
that provide relevant content and information whatever the location
of the user. Everything from tires to toothbrushes will be in
communications range, heralding the dawn of a new era, one in which
today’s Internet (of data and people) gives way to tomorrow’s
Internet of Things.
(...) It seems that we are standing on the brink of a new computing
and communication era, one that will radically transform our
corporate, community, and personal spheres. With continuing
developments in miniaturization and declining costs, it is becoming
not only technologically possible but also economically feasible to
make everyday objects smarter, and to connect the world of people
with the world of things. Building this new environment however, will
pose a number of challenges. Technological standardization in most
areas is still in its infancy, or remains fragmented. Not
surprisingly, managing and fostering rapid technological innovation
will be a challenge for governments and industry alike. But perhaps
one of the most important challenges is convincing users to adopt
emerging technologies like RFID. Concerns over privacy and data
protection are widespread, particularly as sensors and smart tags can
track a user’s movements, habits and preferences on a perpetual
basis. Fears related to nanotechnology range from bio-medical hazards
to robotic control. But whatever the concern, one thing remains
clear: scientific and technological advances in these fields continue
to move ahead at breakneck speed. It is only through awareness of
such advances, and the challenges they present, that we can reap the
future benefits of a fair, user-centric and global Internet of Things.
+ related BBC news item:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4440334.stm
Changes brought about by the internet will be dwarfed by those
prompted by the networking of everyday objects, says a report by a UN
body.
The study looks at how the use of electronic tags and sensors could
create an "internet of things".
The report by the International Telecommunications Union was released
at the UN net summit in Tunis.
Thousands of delegates are discussing ways of narrowing the
technology gap between rich and poor.
"It would seem that science fiction is slowly turning into science
fact in an 'Internet of Things' based on ubiquitous network
connectivity," said the report.
"Today, in the 2000s, we are heading into a new era of ubiquity,
where the 'users' of the internet will be counted in billions and
where humans may become the minority as generators and receivers of
traffic."
(...)
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